AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and the Must-Book WWE Matches for 2018

As is the case with AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, sometimes two puzzle pieces just wait to be put together.

The high-flying WWE champion and the dangerous striker from Japan are a perfect complement to each other. They are both elite SmackDown talents. They are both fresher faces making their mark in the New Era. 

WWE's calendar won't feel complete in 2018 without Styles and Nakamura battling each other until their legs grow wobbly.

The company has some appealing opponents it can send at The Shield, Triple H and Asuka, too. In many cases, the stories have already begun. The first sparks of hype are already crackling. It's just a matter of making the obvious choice.

Read on for a look at some of the best bouts WWE could deliver in 2018.

Triple H vs. Kevin Owens

WWE has left a dynamite fuse unlit for over a year now.

When Triple H attacked both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins to clear the path for Kevin Owens to snag the Universal Championship in August, 2016, questions emerged about KO's relationship with chief operating officer Shane McMahon. There were teases beyond that but no full-on diving into that narrative.

There's too much storyline fodder not to explore there. 

And now that Owens has been at war with the McMahon family, it makes perfect sense to cycle back to whatever was happening between him and The Game. Owens has attacked Triple H's brother-in-law and father-in-law. He has threatened to upend SmackDown at every turn.

That's sure to get Triple H's attention at some point.

Playing off their relationship from when The Game signed Owens to NXT is a smart move. The same goes for The Prizefighter eventually targeting Triple H as he looks to bring chaos to the company. And giving Owens a big-name opponent on a big stage is a no-brainer.

The Shield vs. The Usos

This Raw vs. SmackDown dream match was pulled from the Survivor Series card this November. The Shield instead took on The New Day while The Usos matched up with Cesaro and Sheamus. As good as those matches were, the original plan would have been superior.

The Usos have established themselves as SmackDown's premier team, both in the ring and on the mic. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose led the way as Raw leaned heavily on its tag team division in the second half of the year.

Once Ambrose's arm is healed, The Usos have to be at the top of The Hounds of Justice's list of folks to fight.

This would be an energetic, back-and-forth barnburner featuring each brand's top team. Survivor Series 2018, here we come.

Asuka vs. Paige

WWE has already begun to lay the bricks down to build the path to this showdown.

Paige returned from a lengthy absence with her overpowering faction Absolution in tow. The group first hesitated to include Asuka in its list of victims but more recently went after the former NXT champion.

That has to all lead to Paige and Asuka colliding one-on-one at some point.

The first-ever NXT women's champ vs. the longest-reigning NXT women's titleholder has quite the ring to it. And as WWE looks to build up The Empress of Tomorrow as a dominant force, a victory over Paige would be a key piece to that process. 

There may not be any woman on the Raw roster who can matchup with Asuka in a hard-hitting, smashmouth bout, either. Those two would produce a strike-heavy show-stealer.

Even without a championship involved, this is a bout that would be right at home at WrestleMania.

Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa may prove to be 2018's most moving and unforgettable WWE feud.

Their friendship and tag team imploded at NXT TakeOver: Chicago when Ciampa assaulted Gargano. The vicious attack left Gargano hungry for revenge, but a knee energy has forced the company to delay their inevitable intense collision.

Gargano has since looked to shake off the heartbreak and charge up the NXT ranks as a singles wrestler.

If Ciampa were to return just in time to prevent his old #DIY running mate from winning the NXT Championship, their feud would explode. The long wait for Gargano's vengeance, the personal nature of the rivalry and how great these two work together will make this a Match of the Year candidate.

Their clash at Cruiserweight Classic was phenomenal. Their next meeting will top it.

The Four Horsewomen of NXT vs. The Four Horsewomen of MMA

During this summer's Mae Young Classic, two factions met, staring each other down. Ronda Rousey, Shanya Baszler, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke called out Bayley, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. MMA fighters had invaded the WWE world.

That needs to be foreshadowing of a collision between two quartets who call themselves The Four Horsewomen.

It would be the biggest star-packed women's match you could do outside of the Royal Rumble. It would be a way to showcase UFC star Rousey should she officially join the company. Baszler, who was a finalist in the Mae Young Classic, could be the workhorse of the MMA group to elevate her stock as an NXT prospect.

And seeing Sasha Banks, Bayley, Flair and Lynch on the same squad would be mighty fun.

This is a match made for a grand stage, be it WrestleMania, SummerSlam or Survivor Series. It could also easily be the setup for a big-time money between Flair and Rousey.

Enzo Amore vs. Drew Gulak

Cedric Alexander may have outlasted Drew Gulak to earn the No. 1 contender's spot and a crack at the cruiserweight champ Enzo Amore, but a match with a better story waits to be booked.

Gulak has been Amore's upbeat lackey. He's taken the champion's verbal abuse in stride and continued to pledge allegiance to the Zo Train. That can't last.

The more he gives us PowerPoint presentations or butchers Amore's catch phrases, the more popular he's become. A babyface turn is the obvious move for Gulak. And following that, a showdown between former allies has to happen.

It won't be a thriller in terms of work rate due to Amore's limitations, but it will be all kinds of entertaining to see Gulak stand up for himself and take down the loudmouth bully punch-for-punch.

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Ever since Styles and Nakamura both resided in the WWE realm, fans started dreaming of them battling each other.

Not only are they two of WWE's most entertaining performers, we already know they will kill it against each other. They did just that at New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 10 in 2016.

WWE teased their rematch in their new home at Money in the Bank, when Styles and Nakamura traded blows during the ladder match.

Styles can get the best out of any opponent. And facing Jinder Mahal and Baron Corbin, two stars below his level, Nakamura needs a top-flight foe across from him.

The Phenomenal One defending the WWE Championship against Nakamura is a WrestleMania-worthy match had should be penciled in right now.